Never

Abdul is probably the most complex character in the novel. Not only is he a round character, but he is also a dynamic character who evolves considerably throughout the novel. Much of his evolution has to do with his relationship with Kiah, with whom he begins to develop relations in this section of the story. This happens despite his best efforts to remain aloof from all others on the bus trip. This is in part because it is necessary for him to maintain his cover as a cigarette vendor who like the other migrants is travelling across the Sahara Desert toward the Mediterranean Sea with the hope of a better life in Europe. But Kiah is too observant for him to keep to this identity, for she notices that every time they enter a village, he is noting the number of inhabitants and other details that a typical migrant simply passing through on his/her way to Libya would not track.

An idea of Stereotypes of Women and Power is brought in here, as Kiah is a widow and almost immediately shows inclinations toward a romantic relationship with Abdul. Although she fits this stereotype, however, she also demonstrates considerable wisdom and skill in her dangerous situation and appears to be more than a romance novel cliché, observing the situation and keeping herself aware of threats. She is not simply a passive victim to this situation, having to be rescued by Abdul, but is herself participating in the espionage to an extent and showing herself to be more than what one might assume of her at the novel’s start.

At first, she thinks Abdul dislikes her because he remains distant, but she soon comes to believe that he has two personalities and that there was even a “third man” beneath this, “one who would take the trouble to soothe Naji by telling a story that a two-year-old boy would understand and like” (303). Abdul realizes that he has caused himself trouble by his actions, acknowledging that he has made a friend of Kiah and an enemy of Hakim. He realizes that he has shown some of his true self to the public: that he was a man who helped vulnerable women and also a man who was not afraid of bullies. Kiah uncovers all of this and reveals her observational skills and agency.

But Abdul also has difficulties because of the trauma of his little sister’s kidnapping and murder, for which he seems to blame himself. This seems in part to be underlying his choice of profession as an undercover CIA operative hunting down one of the most dangerous terrorists. He is also struggling because of his rejection by his rich girlfriend’s racist parents. He has a mixed cultural identity, and while this allows him to slip into the identity of the cigarette salesman with ease, it also prevents him from fully belonging to the Western culture and civilization that he admires so much. As a Lebanese Christian, he already inhabits a liminal position between the predominantly Muslim Middle East and the Western-leaning ideals of many of his religious sect. But Abdul John Haddad’s identity (whose name identifies him as a Christian Arab) was further complicated, as he was raised in the West rather than in the Middle East for some of his life. He is an alienated man and, despite being willing to risk his life for the ideals of the United States, is also rootless and deracinated. He wonders at times what kind of man he is, using a simile to compare himself to a fox who “kills for the sheer joy of it” (211).

While the narrative reveals details of other characters’ lives, Abdul’s backstory is developed in greater detail. This is often done through the use of flashbacks to traumatic incidents in his past. Professionals today might diagnose him with PTSD as a result of his childhood loss. These weaving together nationalities and alliances also speak to The Ethics and Counterproductivity of Diplomacy and International Relations. His identity is entangled, just as the alliance networks across the globe are. These alliance networks seem to do little to prevent conflicts and actually seem to increase the odds of conflict, as alliance networks are only ways to bolster one’s side against the other’s in this case. The diplomacy itself seems corrupted and counterproductive and also drives the world closer to Globalization and the Threat of Nuclear War in the 21st Century, as the conflicts worsen throughout this section and remind one that at the end of failed alliance networks is a nuclear war.

The theme of Stereotypes of Women and Power is developed in this section, through both major and minor female characters who occupy positions of power, like President Green or Colonel Marcus, or who behave as powerful women, like Tamara and Kiah. As the President of the United States, Pauline Green is cognizant that she holds the future of millions of American citizens, and perhaps even of the entire world, in her hands. She is able to negotiate with her male counterparts and heads of state and can make tough decisions, when necessary, like asking her vice president to resign. The Colonel is also an example of a strong female leader, who like Pauline is in a traditionally male leadership position. She takes decisive action and is not hesitant to express her opinion, like when she tells Tamara that Dexter is “full of shit” (109). Her straightforward manner of speaking reflects her inner strength and confidence.